Hellfire Pass

Hellfire Pass consists of three cuttings – Konyu cutting, Hammer and Tap cutting, and Hintok. The largest cutting, Konyu cutting, was 25 metres high and 75 metres long. It took months of backbreaking work to complete.

The working conditions, which I discuss in episode 3, were some of the toughest on the whole line.

A display at the museum showing how much rock each man would have to shift each day and how much rice they received in return for their labour.

The view of the Kwae Noi Valley between Konyu cutting and Hammer and Tap cutting

Nearby locations

Nong Pladuk

Nong Pladuk The first station on the Thai side of the Death Railway. Also the site of a tragic incident in September 1944 when Allied planes bombing the railway line killed 96 POWs and injured scores more. Julie Summers describes the attack in episode 5.

Ban Pong

Ban PongThe station where the POWs and Asian Labourers, who had travelled from Singapore and Malaya, ended their journey. From there they walked to their work camps. I describe that journey and their arrival in episode 2.

Kanchanaburi

KanchanaburiA key place on the Death Railway. Many of the POWs and Labourers would have gone through Kanchanaburi on their journeys up and down the line.  The Pagoda of the Unknown is situated in the centre of town, next to the POW cemetery.Boon Pong’s grocery store...

Tamarkan

TamarkanTamarkan camp was where Colonel Toosey and his men were based when building the bridges near Kanchanaburi. When the bridges were complete Tamarkan camp became a hospital camp for the sick returning from other camps along the railway. I discuss Toosey and his...

Click on the stations below to see more about that location

Thanbyuzayat
Tanbaya
Three Pagodas Pass
Songkurai
Konkoita
Kinsayok
Hintok
Hellfire Pass
Konyu
Nam Tok
Wang Pho
Thakilen
Chungkai
Tamarkan
Kanchanaburi
Ban Pong
Nong Pladuk
Location

Thanbyuzayat

The first station on the Burmese side. Men were shipped to Burma rather than going by train. The cemetery holds 3626 graves of POWs who died on the railway.

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Location

Tanbaya

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The pagodas at Three Pagodas Pass
Location

Three Pagodas Pass

The border point between Thailand and Burma (Myanmar). It holds a lot of historical significance as it was the main invasion route from Burma to Thailand for many years. I visit Three Pagodas Pass in episode 5.

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Songkurai
Location

Songkurai

Some of the highest POW fatality rates on the railways happened here. Of 1600 British POWs who entered a camp at Songkurai in 1943, only 400 walked out alive. I discuss with Andrew in episode 5.

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Location

Konkoita

The joining point for the railway. The station is one of several now underwater beneath the vast Vajiralongkorn Dam.

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Kinsayok
Location

Kinsayok

Kinsayok was the site of a large embankment along the railway.

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Hintok
Location

Hintok

Hintok was the third of the three cuttings in the Hellfire Pass area.

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The main cutting at Hellfire Pass
Location

Hellfire Pass

Hellfire Pass consists of three cutting - Konyu cutting, Hammer and Tap cutting, and Hintok. The largest cutting, Konyu cutting, was 25 metres high and 75 metres long. It took months of backbreaking work to complete.

Learn more
Location

Konyu

In episode 4 I visit Konyu River camp and briefly mention this picture by Jack Chalker. You can see what an idyllic spot this is on the River Kwae Noi.

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The train at Nam Tok
Location

Nam Tok

Nam Tok is now the final station along the railway that is still in use. The nearby camp was called Tarsau which had a large hospital.

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Wang Pho
Location

Wang Pho

Perhaps the most picturesque spot on the whole railway, the Wang Pho viaduct took six months to complete. I visit the viaduct in episode 3.

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Thakilen station
Location

Thakilen

This picture illustrates perfectly how comparatively easier it was to work on this part of the railway with relatively flat ground and no obstacles in the way. It also explains why this part of the railway is still running, whilst the more remote spots in the hills and jungle have been discontinued, with constant upkeep required all year round. Andrew and I discuss the differences in locations in episode 3.

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Chungkai cemetery
Location

Chungkai

Chungkai was a hospital camp run by Colonel Cary Owtram. There is now a cemetery with 1692 graves for fallen POWs.

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The bridge at Tamarkan
Location

Tamarkan

Tamarkan camp was where Colonel Toosey and his men were based when building the bridges near Kanchanaburi. When the bridges were complete Tamarkan camp became a hospital camp for the sick returning from other camps along the railway. I discuss Toosey and his work on the bridges in episode 3.

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Kanchanaburi memorial
Location

Kanchanaburi

A key place on the Death Railway. Many of the POWs and Labourers would have gone though Kanchanaburi on their journeys up and down the line.

Learn more
Location

Ban Pong

The station where the POWs and Asian Labourers, who had travelled from Singapore and Malaya, ended their journey. From there they walked to their work camps. I describe that journey and their arrival in episode 2.

Learn more
Location

Nong Pladuk

The first station on the Thai side of the Death Railway. Also the site of a tragic incident in September 1944 when Allied planes bombing the railway line killed 96 POWs and injured scores more. Julie Summers describes the attack in episode 5.

Learn more
The Death Railway Revisited Map

Click on the stations below to see more about that location